Chapter 4 - The House She Once Escaped
Clara returned to the Rossi estate two days later.
The gates opened.
Her chest tightened.
Nothing had changed.
Stone walls.
Security cameras.
Black SUVs.
Men in dark suits.
Then she noticed something.
Nobody approached her car.
Vincent opened her door himself.
“Welcome.”
“Don’t say welcome home.”
He paused.
“Welcome.”
“Better.”
Her old bedroom was untouched.
Clara stood in the doorway.
“You kept everything.”
“I didn’t know what to do with it.”
Her books remained beside the bed.
Her robe still hung behind the bathroom door.
A photograph from their wedding sat face down on the dresser.
She turned it over.
“You couldn’t throw this away?”
“No.”
“Sentimental?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Vincent almost smiled.
Then Frankie entered.
“Boss.”
Vincent looked at Clara.
“May we talk here?”
The question mattered.
She nodded.
Frankie spread several documents across the desk.
“Anthony lost four captains this morning.”
“Meaning?” Clara asked.
“He’s losing support.”
Vincent studied the documents.
“Which makes him desperate.”
Frankie nodded.
Clara crossed her arms.
“What exactly happens when a mafia captain gets desperate?”
Neither man answered.
“Wonderful.”
Vincent looked at Frankie.
“Move the household staff to the west wing tonight.”
Clara immediately said, “Why?”
“Precaution.”
“No vague answers.”
Vincent exhaled.
“We believe Anthony may try to enter the estate.”
“Tonight?”
“Possibly.”
“And you brought me here?”
“The hospital was more exposed.”
“You said this place was secure.”
“It is.”
“Apparently not enough.”
Vincent looked at her.
“You’re right.”
Frankie appeared shocked again.
Clara frowned.
“Stop agreeing with me. It’s unsettling.”
A sudden alarm sounded downstairs.
Frankie reached for his radio.
“Gate three.”
Vincent moved instantly.
“Stay here.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
He stopped at the door.
“Please.”
She stared at him.
“Go.”
Vincent and Frankie disappeared.
Clara locked the door.
Thirty seconds later, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
Anthony’s voice came through.
“You always were his weakness.”
Clara’s blood ran cold.
“How did you get this number?”
“I know more about Vincent’s house than Vincent does.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“Why?”
“Because he’ll trade everything for you now.”
“You’re assuming he loves me.”
Anthony laughed.
“He has never stopped.”
Clara looked toward the hallway.
“You don’t understand him very well.”
“I understand him better than you do.”
“No. You understand the man he lets you see.”
Anthony went silent.
Clara continued.
“You think Vincent’s weakness is loving someone.”
“It is.”
“No. Yours is thinking everyone is as afraid as you are.”
The line went dead.
Then Clara heard something outside her room.
A soft click.
The handle moved.
She backed away.
“Vincent?”
No answer.
The door opened.
A man wearing an estate security uniform entered.
Clara recognized him.
Paul.
He had worked there for years.
“Mrs. Rossi.”
Her eyes dropped to the radio in his hand.
No weapon visible.
“Why are you here?”
“Mr. Rossi sent me.”
“No, he didn’t.”
Paul stopped.
Clara reached for the emergency button beside the bed.
Paul lunged.
Clara slammed her palm onto it.
Sirens erupted.
Paul froze.
Footsteps thundered through the hallway.
Vincent entered first.
He saw Paul.
Then Clara.
His expression became terrifyingly calm.
Frankie seized Paul and forced him against the wall.
Vincent walked toward him.
“Who sent you?”
Paul said nothing.
Vincent’s fist tightened.
Clara spoke.
“Vincent.”
He stopped.
She knew exactly what he wanted to do.
“Don’t.”
Paul laughed nervously.
“She still has you trained.”
Vincent turned toward him.
“No.”
He looked at Clara.
“She’s teaching me.”
Vincent stepped back.
“Frankie, call the police.”
Frankie stared.
“The police?”
“Yes.”
“What do we tell them?”
“The truth.”
Paul’s face changed.
“You can’t.”
Vincent looked at him.
“I just did.”
That night, Clara found Vincent alone in his study.
“You called the police.”
“Yes.”
“That creates questions.”
“Yes.”
“Questions about your business.”
“Yes.”
She leaned against the doorway.
“Why?”
Vincent poured a drink but didn’t touch it.
“Because every time I solve something the old way, I create another reason for you to leave.”
Clara studied him.
“And Anthony?”
“I’ll remove him from my organization.”
“Without killing him?”
“If possible.”
“If possible isn’t comforting.”
Vincent looked at her.
“I’m trying, Clara.”
She walked closer.
“I know.”
His eyes dropped to her stomach.
The baby moved.
Clara hesitated.
Then she took his hand.
She placed it against the side of her belly.
Vincent froze.
A small kick pressed against his palm.
The most feared man in the city stopped breathing.
Again.
Another kick.
Vincent whispered, “That’s him?”
“Or her.”
His eyes lifted.
Clara saw something she had rarely seen during their marriage.
Wonder without control.
“Hello,” Vincent whispered.
Clara smiled despite herself.
Then another contraction hit.
Her smile vanished.
Vincent caught her.
“Clara?”
She gripped his shoulders.
“That one was different.”
His face went pale.
“How different?”
She looked at him.
May you like
“Get the car.”
---
